Elle Bell,

  The part of your experience that rings true for me, indicating something interesting about whether or not it indicates real contact is:

>> The next day at a meeting for work, I had the thought come into mind, "Don't forget to look for that "41,000" number.  So I gazed down at some paper work the group was discussing, and sure enough there was a "41,286" number on the paper. <<

  Think about the timing of having that "thought come into mind."  If it hadn't come to mind when it did, the paper with that number might not have been in plain sight.  Then ask yourself why that thought came into your mind at that specific time?  And, where do thoughts originate?

>> Would this be considered a real contact?  Or did I make this up? <<

The important part in my view is that to the extent you can accept even the possibility that it indicates a form of real contact, to that extent the beliefs blocking your perception are removed, and your perception is more open.  With your perception more open clearer contact experiences become more possible. 

>> Is spirit contact really that easy?  Or did I fool myself?  <<

Yes, it is that easy.  Doubt is normal.  A certain level of open-minded-delayed-judgement-skepticism is necessary.  Can one experience like yours prove anything?  Or course not.  But it can be the beginning of a process that leads to proof.  As the first chapter in the Guidebook says, Trust is always the first issue.

My suggestion would be to keep the possibility open that this might indicate not only real contact, but also something about how communication with grandma occurs.

Bruce

Hello ElleBe!

What a wonderful <B><i>first experience</i></B> you had! It’s great, too, that Bruce’s <A HREF = “http://www.geocities.com/frankredstien/10-7-04ChatTranscript.pdf”>Chat Transcript</A> proved so helpful to your discovery.

There are many sites out there where people will promise to find the answers for you. In some cases we’re instrumental in assisting. I’d argue, however, that the best thing going for this site is the information <B><i>freely</i></B> exchanged with those who have the courage to try the disarmingly simple methods that Bruce advances.

You’d think his engineer’s mind could somehow make it far more difficult and elevate it to the stuff of high Gnosticism. But there you go!

Nice work. Please continue to share your journeys and discoveries with us.

Peace,

Herb